Haryana Governor Dr. A.R. Kidwai while presiding over the Engineering Entrepreneurship Conclave at PEC Alumni Meet of Punjab Engineering College (PEC) Saturday said that ideal combination of the student, faculty and Alumni were key to the success of Engineering educations. He remarked that with the PEC becoming the Deemed University it is the responsibility of its Alumni to take it to great heights of glory.

Dr. Kidwai stated that due to solid foundation of the science and technical education laid by the first Prime Minister Mr. Jawahar Lal Nehru our country is being considered as knowledge based nation in the world.

He said that many of the prestigious foreign companies and educational institution have Indian scientists and engineers on their rolls due to their sincerity and dedication to duty. Silicon Valley in the USA is also dominated by the Indian Entrepreneurs and Engineers.

The Governor regretted that the Public Sector Undertakings in our country did not come up to the expectation of their planners due to their dominance by the bureaucracy. Mismanagement, over staffing, red tapeism and lack of vision were responsible for most of them being in the red since their inception.

Dr. Kidwai said that educational institutions have a greater role in producing competent students who can shoulder the responsibilities of bright future of India. He called upon youth to take up the challenge of making India a prosperous country by utilizing the opportunities offered by the globalization of economy. He said that if we maintain our GDP at 9.5 per cent we could emerge as a developed country by 2020 and one of the three economic powers of the world by 2045.

Chairman, VSNL, Subodh Bhargava in his keynote address emphasized the need for quality and excellence in every sphere if we want to survive at international level. He said that till 1991 we were not required to be serious in business as there was economic protection to the industry. After liberalization of economy in 1991, three major decisions were taken in which company executives were given more powers to take decision, Indians got space for their entrepreneurship and Indian Managers started thinking strategically. He stressed the need of quality and innovative ideas for facing the foreign competition. He mentioned in lighter mood that we will have to retain our quality of 'Jugar' for which we are known everywhere. He opined that like industries, education should also be opened to bring changes for the good of the nation.

On this occasion, Mr. Garg narrated the history of the PEC from its shifting from Lahore to Roorki and then to Chandigarh and becoming Deemed University in 2004.

Dr. Vijay Kaushal, Director, PEC stated that after its becoming Deemed University, the autonomy and responsibility has increased manifold. The main aim is to bring transformation in the sylabbi so as to achieve academic excellence.

Other who also spoke on the occasion included Mr. Vikram Hans, President, PECOSA, Mr. Dharinder Tayal and Anurag Aggarwal, General Secretary, PESOSA.

Haryana Governor announced to give a billiard table for the college. Mr. Chander Mohan, Chairman Governing Body of PEC donated one lakh for research work of students while Rs.99,000 were donated by 1980 batch students for the same propose. The students of 1983 batch donated snookers table.

Vijay Gupta, former Director of PEC announced to finance the best teachers award if instituted by the college.